Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Another Lurcher girl whose life has began to to take an upturn is the little one that arrived at the weekend with this horrific leg break. She faced either having her leg amputated or even worse destroyed, as she had no one to pay her medical bill.....

Moorview Vets instantly backed me and with the support of the Animal Welfare Team of Northumberland County Council we were able to save her leg and her life.....

During surgery......

Her bone has been pinned back together.....

And is held by a metal plate.....

So instead of what could of been a devastating outcome for such a young dog, she is staying with me and my family till Thursday before moving onto a temporary foster home to allow her to recover. She is so full of fun, keeping her rested is definitely going to be the hardest part!

She comes with her homework after seeing a physio yesterday, and we will plan to start Hydrotherapy in about 4 weeks.....

Waiting for her tea at my house tonight.....

She is such a gorgeous girl, we would of done anything to save her, but that does come at a cost, and her surgery and treatment so far has already topped the £1,500 mark. This is where we really need your help. You can donate towards her bill by paypal (shak@shak.org.uk) or by sending a cheque made payable to SHAK and sent to: SHAK. Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1HB or if you prefer you can call Moorview Vets direct on 0191 2566990 and make a donation from the SHAK account.

Monday, 26 October 2015

There are some really exciting things going on behind the scenes right now, such as the launch of SHAK Club that already has nigh on 200 members, the wonderful partnership we have now have in place with Gallery 45 in Felton.....

But today I'm delighted to announce a MASSIVE development in the progression of the charity with

the launch of SHAK HQ.

Based in the middle of the town centre in Alnwick, on Greenwell Road, SHAK HQ gives us an incredible opportunity to reconnect with the community as well as taking SHAK to the next level and beyond.

Consisting of office space, the first ever SHAK actual retail outlet and most excitingly a venue for talks, demonstrations and seminars, HQ will not only give us a base to develop but also an opportunity for our supporters to get involved and help us move forward.

There will be educational sessions, specialist courses, evenings with special guests and other fundraising activities. In fact I'm delighted to announce that we have already secured a link with Essentials for Equilibrium and will be offering a wide range of courses and demonstrations on the extensive alternative therapies they practice.

HQ will also provide us with a new drop off point for your donations as well as providing a place to offer one on one consultations. The possibilities are endless.....

So exciting times indeed. Please keep an on the website and future SHAK Club mail outs for further details of events, or if you'd be interested in holding an event there please get in touch via shakclub@shak.org.uk

And remember, every penny raised at SHAK HQ goes back in the pot to help us give our dogs the best of life that we can. Thank you again for you support.

Saturday, 24 October 2015

It has been like a whirlwind here of late as dogs have arrived, gone home or moved to other rescues on almost a daily basis it seems. However, the plight of the very latest addition really is a shocker.....

Found as a stray this young female Lurcher obviously had something seriously wrong with her back leg. So wrong that an original vet assessment was that there was a good chance it was so badly broken that amputation may of been the only option.....

The xray below shows just how bad the break was, and our worst fears seemed to of be realised. Step forward though the amazing team at Moorview Vets who put aside the fact the dog was a stray and had no owner to settle the bill, and offered to fix her.....

I think it also a good time to say how supportive and understanding the team at Northumberland County Council Animal Welfare have been. Without their kindness and support she would of been looking at being destroyed due to no owner. They deserve a huge amount of credit for saving her life.

This afternoon she has had surgery and her leg has been plated back together. Excuse my lack of medical knowledge, but my understanding after talking to the vet was that as the end of the bone had passed each other her muscles have began contracting, that made the operation more difficult but also leads to a huge complication..... it is CRITICAL now that she begins to use the leg as quickly as normal to loosen te muscles, she will start physiotherapy asap and we will also arrange hydrotherapy. If the muscles don't relax she is in serious danger of losing the leg after all. Nobody wants that.....

So please pray for her tonight, and if anybody would like to help towards the cost of her operation please PayPal shak@shak.org.uk.

We have saved her, Moorview Vets have hopefully saved her leg. Her life starts today from a really low point.

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

It's with great pleasure that we announce to day our link up with a great place to visit right here in Northumberland.

Based in a converted village pub, Gallery 45 in Felton, has a shop and art gallery, as well as running all sorts of creative workshops..... And you can now purchase your SHAK Calendars, Christmas Cards, Mounted Prints and the "It's A Dogs Life" book from there too. We are also very lucky that as well as stocking our merchandise we have also been chosen to be their charity of the Year. Throw in a SHAK talk in one of their exhibition rooms early next year, and it makes a really exciting link up.

We're all very proud to be part of a wonderful place, and really appreciate the support they are giving us.

Sunday, 18 October 2015

Today is a date that is etched into my head for such sad reasons. Fours years ago we lost Scooby and two years ago we lost Smokey. Two huge boys with even bigger reputations, they taught me so much and made the impossible possible.....

Their memories are always in my head, but what they taught me will always run through my heart.

This time two years ago.....

October the 18th is a day etched into my head already, as two years ago I lost Scooby, the dog that changed SHAK forever. Today that imprint in my head got deeper as my worst fears were confirmed and I had to do the right thing and let Smokey go.

After the beach on Tuesday I took Smokey to the vets as he had a large lump on his back leg that had got dramatically bigger. I knew it wasn't good, and the look on Emily's face said it all. An appointment was made for X Rays today, and thus began the horrific countdown of doing everything with the dog that had become my side kick for the last time.

Today's results were worse case scenario. A massive bone tumour was feeding off Smokey's body and there were signs of possible secondary tumours appearing other places. I had to put my personal needs to one side and do what was best for him.

Smokey had been with us for the best part of four years, the last month I have gotten to know him better than I thought I already did. He was tough, stubborn but oh so brave. If I had half the spirit he had, then maybe I wouldn't feel so broken inside right now.

Today SHAK lost a legend, like so many before him, Smokey summed up everything this charity stands for and fights against. Personally I have lost a dog that became so close to me, not having him hurts, but more importantly I've lost a dog that I am honoured to of let me get so close. We all loved him, and my family loved having him with us, I'd like to think that Smokey felt we were lucky to have him!

Smokey saying goodbye to his friends at the kennels yesterday with a game of football.

Relaxing last night around the fire outside.

Sweet Dreams big man.....

Our goodbye this morning. Fighting back tears and wanting time to stand still.

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Losing the big man was even more ironic as it came on the second anniversary of losing the dog that made taking in dogs like Smokey possible. A lot has been said about Scooby, and I think his nickname of Lord Scooby says it all, but if he hadn't of come into my life snarling and biting me in the process, Smokey, Miko and all the others would never of made it to SHAK and ultimately home with me. I still think about you Scooby, and miss you being here. Thank you x

Sunday, 11 October 2015

I said that the start of SHAK Club was just the starting point of a whole load of exciting things….. Well today I’m delighted to announce another.....

It is with great pride that we start our WISH campaign with Newcastle’s The Chronicle tomorrow.

“Wish is back for 2015 and we’re giving away a share of a £30,000 fund to not-for-profit organisations in Newcastle and the North East. This is the fifth year we’ve ran the campaign, and to date over £205,000 has been given away to around 1,000 groups.

Wish tokens will be printed in The Chronicle from Monday 12th October 2015, and will appear every day until Saturday 9th January 2016. Remember, the greater number of tokens your your group collects, the greater the share of the Wish fund you will receive. Watch out for the bonus token days too as these could give your group a massive boost!”

So it really is that simple. Save the tokens in the Chronicle and ask all your friends to do the same! The more you save the more money we could receive. We will announce where to send your tokens at a later date. Thank you in advance for all your support!

Saturday, 10 October 2015

There's more sad news this week as on Thursday we lost a real brave soldier. Ronnie arrived with us emaciated and in a right mess, as you can see in the photo below. However with Alison and Michael it was love at first sight, and it was an instant bond that was never broken.

The fact I have no other photos of Ronnie other than the day he arrived shows how quickly they snapped him up, and with that move he quickly gained the best life a dog could wish for. Caravan holidays, the seaside twice a day, his own spot in the pub afterwards, Ronnie was never away from them, and in Michael he had found his soul mate.

As well as obvious concerns about his health, Ronnie also suffered from serious separation anxiety but Michael and Alison didn't bat an eyelid at that. They simply took him everywhere! An action I admired greatly and will always be grateful for.

Tuesday saw Ronnie dip. He'd lost even more weight, and was rushed to the vets unable to support himself. Tests confirmed a cancer. That hideous disease had beaten us again. Despite the brilliant attention of Emily and her team at Moorview Vets there was nothing we could do. On Thursday he slipped away in the arms of his Dad.

Ronnie will be missed by everyone. His weekly visits to the kennels whilst his Mam and Dad helped others that hadn't been as fortunate as him will live with us all forever. Love and a big thank you go to Alison and Michael, amazing people who did all they could for an amazing dog.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

I had some really sad news on Monday night as one of SHAK'S old timers lost his battle aginst illness. Seymour came not long after I started The Rescue Place, and although he was very quickly snapped up by a loving family, he left a big impression on everyone.

Mr Foxy as we nicknamed him was simply gorgeous, and the Inglis family that fell in love with him at first sight ended up with a perfect family dog.

He used to send me postcards from his many family caravan holidays, and despite being away from us for 6 or 7 years I got regular visits at least a couple of times a year. The picture below was taking just a couple of weeks ago..... the last time I saw him.

I don't think anyone who was lucky enough to meet him will ever forget Seymour. I know his family has has their hearts torn apart by having to let him go. Our thoughts are with them. 'Jump free little man.'

Friday, 2 October 2015

"Running a charity like SHAK and the pressures it brings really is incredibly stressful. The dream that I had all those years ago of 'simply helping dogs' has grown beyond even my wildest dreams, but with that growth and reputation for helping the dogs that nobody else will, there also comes the heavy burden of keeping it all running. My day so often now gets bogged down with all the other worries that I guess only people who run their own businesses or other charities really understand.....

The support that firstly I received when I started this, and then the support my team has received as we've moulded SHAK into what you now know, has quite simply been amazing. We couldn't do what we do without your support. Likewise there wouldn't be a SHAK without the hard work, dedication and sacrifices myself and my team have committed too. WE NEED THAT HELP TO CONTINUE.

I think now is a very good time to mention that SHAK does not and never will have a Facebook page, or a page on any other social media website (the Twitter account is dormant.) We have tried in the past but it became to much. We were accessible, and requests to take dogs along with the messages threatening that 'dogs will be destroyed' was simply too much for me or our facilities to cope. However, and this is a very important point, individuals do cross post things on social media from this site, whilst others run fantastic fundraising pages, the value of that exposure and promotion on such sites is vital, I understand that, and really do appreciate the effort put in and the funds these supporters raise! Again our existence would be in doubt without them.

You maybe wondering where all this is going? What is he rambling on about? Quite simply put, SHAK the charity has grown too big for myself, the kennel staff and the existing volunteers, and the fundraising team to keep going at the rate we are. We need help, but we need the right help. Help with the things that we need the most..... More money for us to expand and improve our facilities, more money so we can hire more staff. The demand for us to take dogs is now plural on a daily basis. We simply do not have the spaces, resources or man power to take the charity to the next step that it seems destined to reach. Having become so specialised and building up our reputation nationwide, we need help to continue to grow, and we need the help now.

You will of seen the adverts for volunteers on the 'Opportunities To Join Our Team' page, those positions still need filled. However, I have to emphasise that only people that can meet the criteria will be considered. We also need help with every other aspect of the the work SHAK does, and that is the whole point of this statement.....

Today see's the launch of SHAK Club..... At first it may not seem much, but SHAK Club is my way of communicating with SHAK supporters and letting them know exactly what help is needed and how they can help. Originally starting off as an Emailing list, SHAK Club will keep you up to date with Change Lives appeals, things we are desperate for (whether its at the kennels or medication, specialist food etc for example) new merchandise and gifts, all official fundraising events and so much more. As SHAK is well into its 10th year, I feel it would be really appropriate to connect with our supporters by sharing what we really need and offer. The good and the bad.

We are all working so hard to keep this running. There are some really exciting plans in place that will hopefully come to fruition in the not too distant future, as myself, the fundraising team and the PR people we now have on board look to really push us forward and establish SHAK as a charity nationwide. I believe we really are at a pivotal point in the charities existence, time to push to the next level, we cannot keep operating within the bottleneck we currently find ourselves.

So..... whats the next step? HOW CAN YOU HELP? Easy..... email shakclub@shak.org.uk to register to be on our emailing list. It is as simple as that, and that way you will be the first to know what is happening, but also what we need the most. That way, hopefully you will be able to help.

Once again, thank you for your continued support, but also for taking the time to read this statement. SHAK Club is an exciting prospect, be great to have you come along for the ride....."

Thursday, 1 October 2015

I don't usually post dogs that have just arrived, and are still serving their seven days as a stray, but I just can't keep this video to myself. This poor boy is a dog that was found locally and absolutely riddled with flea's. Excuse the poor quality of recording we were literally trying to capture as much as we could whilst trying to treat him and deal with his wriggling.....

If you recognise this dog, or know who he is owner is then please get in touch with the Animal Welfare Team at Northumberland Council.

Who We Are.....

Stephen Wylie and one of the SHAK dogs Donnie.

And What We Do.....

Celebrating its 10th anniversary on June 19th 2016, SHAK has come a long way since its founder Stephen Wylie uttered those fateful words ‘never again...’ after the shock death of his dog and best friend Shak.

The hundreds of dogs whose lives have been changed because of that loss is testament to a dog that had a lasting imprint on everyone he met.....

Today the registered charity has approximately 70 dogs inits care, offering sanctuary to the ones that really need it or a place to simply become a dog again for others.

Working only with destruction cases from vets, strays anddogs from our trusted charity partners, SHAK does not take in dogs from members of the public. Likewise we are not a rehoming centre, although we do offer the opportunity for people to apply for our Forever Foster project.

We concentrate all of our time, energy and resources directly into the well being of our dogs, enriching lives that others had written off.....

Keep Calm

Ways You Can Donate.....

Donate By Text.....

We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Vodafone, and provide a simple and effective way of you to help us "Save Even More Dogs On Death Row."
Simply text SHAK01 £10 to 70070 to donate to Shak (Safe Homes And Kindness) and make a difference today. You can donate any amount upto £10 by simply changing the amount in the text, and the best thing is we get EVERY penny.
Thanks in advance for your support.

"It's A Dogs Life....."

A Blog page to show all the work that goes on behind the scenes at SHAK.

A brief insight into how our dogs get here, and what they do when they get here…..

(Please note, all opinions and views on here are exactly that, OUR opinions and views ony.)